Johnny Hayes Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Doris Hale was a longtime friend of the Shore Athletic Club. One of the things she did before she passed away was to leave her father's collection of running memorabilia to the club, with the understanding that it be used to perpetuate his memory. This past Saturday, as a result of some actions by members of the club, her father, Johnny Hayes, was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in Utica, NY. Mr. Hayes had won the Olympic Marathon in 1908, in what is often regarded as the most dramatic and influential marathon in history. We were honored to have Frank Shorter, the next American to win Olympic Marathon gold, accept the award on Mr. Hayes' behalf. Also inducted were Amby Burfoot, winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon, and Priscilla Welch, most noted as a world-class masters runner.

Pictured here are Frank Shorter, accepting for John J. Hayes, Priscilla Welch, and Amby Burfoot.

This was the banner for this year's induction class.

Mr. Shorter spoke briefly on Mr. Hayes' legacy. The local paper described the ceremony here and here.

Current Hall of Famers present at this year's ceremony were: (from left) Nina Kuscsik, Master of Ceremonies Larry Rawson, Kathrine Switzer, Frank Shorter, and Bill Rodgers.

Following the ceremony, Frank Shorter showed off his medal and Hayes' medal. (Hayes' medal is in the club's collection.)